This is from an unknown author, and has circulated around the 'Net several times, but it's appropriate for the holiday season. 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through my pike, Not a steamer was stirring, not even a Mike. My yard tracks invitingly empty and bare, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The diesels were nestled all snug in their sheds, While visions of DCC danced in their heads. While I, in my blue-and-white engineer's cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, When down in the train room, there rose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the basement I flew like an ace, Tripped over the cat and fell flat on my face. I stifled a curse meant for Chessie (the cat), And I muttered to no one, "I meant to do that," When what to my wondering eyes should appear But an O Gauge sleigh and eight Preiser reindeer, With an engineer driving, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than GG-1's, onward they came, And he blew a steam whistle and called them by name: "On Athearn! On Lionel, Kato and Walthers! On Kadee and Micro-Trains, Atlas and others! To the top of the mountains of Hydrocal plaster, Now dash away, dash away, dash away faster!" As dry leaves that behind a new Genesis fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So in through the window the coursers they flew With the sleigh full of trains, and St. Nicholas too. And then, on my roundhouse, I saw on the roof The prints in the dust of each O Gauge hoof. As I drew a deep breathe, and was turning around, From beneath the benchwork, St. Nick came with a bound. He was dressed like an engineer from head to foot, And his clothes had that fine smell of ashes and soot; A bundle of trains he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes - just like marker lights! Dimples, how merry! His cheeks like a Warbonnet; nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And his beard was so white; it would please Phoebe Snow. He puffed on a pipe as he refilled its bowl, And the smoke, it smelled just like bituminous coal. He had a broad face and a belly (I found) That shook like a tank car with wheels out-of-round. He was chubby and plump, and I wanted to shout, "Yes! The man's got a route the NS can't buy out!" A wink of his eye as he passed near the door Soon gave me to know I'd have freight cars galore. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work. He filled all my yard tracks; then turned with a jerk, And leaving an airbrush he'd found on eBay, And giving a nod, he returned to his sleigh. He pumped up the brakes, blew two blasts on his whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, "MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! KEEP 'EM ROLLING! GOOD-NIGHT!"
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Aloha. Grey and rainy. Supposed to get 4-8 inches - I like the range from the weather guesser - but it might drift north anyway. We'll see in the morning... I'm working the church's Christmas services this week - six services, two rehearsals, lots of 'run-throughs' but it's fun to see it come together. Hopefully the daughter and BF will get here late Monday night and spend a few days with us. I am fortunate to have the week off.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Good evening all,
Spent all day with "honey-dos". Did find time to do some refinements on standard gauge Christmas layout. Searchlight car now has 2 working lights. All the treats I want the wife to make for the holidays are done. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Good night all. Had record high today [mid 70's]. Expecting record highest low over night as mid 60's. Record high tomorrow as into the high 70's. Rain late tomorrow afternoon through Monday. Chilly for the Christmas holidays.
Wired in new electrical panel in Frankie's new work shop/storage building. Then wired in the breaker in his house main panel. Completes his new building. He got a trencher and trenched in number 8 wire, waterline and coax 3 feet deep. Building is over 200 feet away from house. Really nice. 24X14 with big garage door. I took Walker [oldest adopted Grandson, Hunters Haven son] and taught him how to wire. He did 90% of the panel with me watching. He's 11 and did great.
Off to bed.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
I am beat!Spent the morning finishing up wrapping presents and then baking cookies with TheQ and Christina... that little girl sure does like to help! She kept us on our toes the whole time, so no time for pictures. Spent the afternoon running ehrands (of course this required TWO trips because the warehouse store is North of us and the grocery store we do all our Holiday shopping at is West of us). We did get a free tank of gas out of it though (plus filled the two 5 gallon gas cans, result was 25.5 gallons of premium fuel for $0.00, a savings of $91.50!!!! Went to Target and picked up two new 45 gallon wheeled storage bins for the trains. Now I have to reorganize a couple so the Christmas trains are in blue bins and the everyday stuff is in grey bins.Tomorrow is finishing up the baking, and hopefully getting started on the cleaning, otherwise Tuesday is going to be non-stop and we'll be beat by 8:00pm!Doug - thanks for the tip! I don't normally transport my trains, but when I do I either dig out the original box or wrap them in old bath towels and put them in heavy cardboard boxes.
https://brentsandsusanspicutures.shutterfly.com/
ChiefEagles Wired in new electrical panel in Frankie's new work shop/storage building. Then wired in the breaker in his house main panel. Completes his new building.
Wired in new electrical panel in Frankie's new work shop/storage building. Then wired in the breaker in his house main panel. Completes his new building.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
Mornin' boys. Mornin' English. A balmy 71 degrees in the Mid-Atlantic region. Should be raining by the time the RAVENS take on RockIsland's Pats this afternoon.
Wifey and I took advantage of the mild temps and traveled to HavreDeGrace last night for dinner and small business shopping. Should have done the shopping first, as many stores were closed by 4 or 5. Shame too, as the town really decorated the district nicely, and there were other couples who apparently had the same idea.... On the way back, we saw all types of police vehicles next to Amtrak in Aberdeen, and just east of their location was a stopped passenger train. Trespasser met their demise. Stopped corridor traffic for 3 hours.
Good Morning from Blueberryhill............
Good Morning, Joe.........
It is a dark and rainy 60 degrees. Going up to 63 today with more rain.
Today is an easy day. I have the usual chores to do and then I will relax and do some reading. Lunch and a nice nap.
The usual for breakfast.
Y'all have a great Sunday.
Chuck
Hi GUYZ,
Been busy WIFE and I making cookies. We baked 20 dozen so far with another 15 to go today. Ran trains for 2 hrs last nite NO PILE UPs. One uncoupling but caught it in time. WOW its warm here.
CHUCK, is the snow cannon done for the year?
JOEY D, Like I say about my INDIANS and BEARs, Wait til next year. Glad you had fun coaching.
RT, nice poem.
BUCKEYE, LOL,! Roseyville has lots to be worried about there, the whole town could be in jeopardy ala Chicago fire?
BUCKEYE how was train nite?
Stay frost my friends,
laz57
DOUG M,
GO BEARs!!!! BEAT THE BEAGLES!!!!!
LAZ............send some cookies to Ohio.
Snow cannon is caught in a bad flood.
Morning all. Cloudy, breezy and real warm. Rest up the morning after sausage patties and scrambled eggs. First real breakfast in a while. Going to help Wifey take back things she bought and was not needed as gifts.
Gurgle, gurgle for Buckeye. So I do not have to worry about his comments. Don't mess with Mother Nature and the Chief.
Brent, you are going to have the best memories of your life now with those two. They have the best parents they could ever imagine. God bless both of you.
Have a great week and the best Christmas ever.
Just got word that Cracker Barrel pulled Duck Dynasty stiff.
Later.
Cloudy and 28 here in beautiful Springdale, AR. Helpful culinary hint of the day: If you're frying up salami slices for breakfast sandwiches, 3 or 4 cuts along the edge, about an inch in, keeps the slices from curling up and cooking unevenly. Also, leftover baked potatoes are best for making hash browns and home fries!
Mitch
ChiefEagles Just got word that Cracker Barrel pulled Duck Dynasty stiff. Later. Looks like I won't go to Cracker Barrel anymore. laz57
Looks like I won't go to Cracker Barrel anymore.
M. Mitchell MarmelCloudy and 28 here in beautiful Springdale, AR. Helpful culinary hint of the day: If you're frying up salami slices for breakfast sandwiches, 3 or 4 cuts along the edge, about an inch in, keeps the slices from curling up and cooking unevenly. Also, leftover baked potatoes are best for making hash browns and home fries! Mitch
fifedog Mornin' boys. Mornin' English. A balmy 71 degrees in the Mid-Atlantic region. Should be raining by the time the RAVENS take on RockIsland's Pats this afternoon. Wifey and I took advantage of the mild temps and traveled to HavreDeGrace last night for dinner and small business shopping. Should have done the shopping first, as many stores were closed by 4 or 5. Shame too, as the town really decorated the district nicely, and there were other couples who apparently had the same idea.... On the way back, we saw all types of police vehicles next to Amtrak in Aberdeen, and just east of their location was a stopped passenger train. Trespasser met their demise. Stopped corridor traffic for 3 hours.
Put finishing touches on standard gauge Christmas layout. Watched "Ernest Saves Christmas". Took it easy today. I hope everyone has a good day. Talked to Lucas yesterday. He is doing well.
laz 57 DOUG M, GO BEARs!!!! BEAT THE BEAGLES!!!!! laz57
Don't look it tonight sorry Laz but them birds are tearing up at the moment by a double digit lead
Laz.....22nd Annual Neighborhood Children's Christmas Party was a success with a few new ones in attendance. The young lady next door made her 22nd party. She was in her mom's arms for the first party. Trains ran good with everyone thrilled to see the K-Line Mikado steam around the 200 ft of track puffing smoke and the shrill whistle blasting at the crossings to Bob Evans Farm. Of course the Williams Monon BL2 pulled the ten plus cars up and down the grade all night including the classic K-Line Santa Claus car. The Garrett Station was all decorated for Christmas and Roger's Corners huge Christmas tree sparkled with colored lights. Everyone was delighted to see Dudley grab the maiden on the tracks before being decapitated.
M. Mitchell Marmel Cloudy and 28 here in beautiful Springdale, AR. Helpful culinary hint of the day: If you're frying up salami slices for breakfast sandwiches, 3 or 4 cuts along the edge, about an inch in, keeps the slices from curling up and cooking unevenly. Also, leftover baked potatoes are best for making hash browns and home fries! Mitch
Works great for bologna too. Grits are better than home fries.
Glad to have you post.
Raining and extra warm here.
Sleep tight.
Joe
Good Morning from Blueberryhill.........
Good Morning, Joe........Sounds like you are planning a nice Holiday time.
It is a dark 34 degrees. Going up to 40 today.
Today is a busy day. I have some chores to do and a project to work on. The wife is grocery shopping and running a few errands. We will be busy most of the day. Lunch and a short nap, I hope.
Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.
Y'all have a great Monday.
Morning all
Joe yes they realized they took a dumb dumb pill but as it wore off they corrected themselves as they realized they may of just shot themselves in the foot as the saying goes when they realize how large of a following they Duck had
Not a lot going on this morning Have to goto FedEx to ship a package but that's about it for me today.
Hope all have a good week talk to you all later.
GO! Eagles!!
BEARS STINK!!! WOW they took their lumps last nite. 21 points and I shut them off. Ain't gonna win nothing playing likr dat.
BUCKEYE, glad all had a great time there in ROGERS CORNERS. BTW do you have the silos with the ROGERS CORNERS ele. 936ft.? Just wondering, maybe Lionel or MTH could market them and cut you in on the profits?
Stay frosty my friends,
Morning all. Extra warm and pouring rain. Front moving through and then cold air. Not got the bad stuff like folks west of NC got. Not good.
Going to run a few late Christmas errands.
Tomorrow will be a zoo. Kids at noon and then In-laws that evening. Christmas is nothing going on. We have stopped the big In-laws Christmas afternoon meal. Probably a movie.
laz 57 Hi GUYZ, BEARS STINK!!! WOW they took their lumps last nite. 21 points and I shut them off. Ain't gonna win nothing playing likr dat. laz57
Frank,
on the link.
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
Greetings y'all from rainy and icy Cape Ann Taxachusetts.
How am I supposed to get my Christmas shopping for the wifey done when I get an emergency "Grampy, can you babysit the munchkins while we go out to finish up our Christmas shopping" call from my daughter and son-in-law?
Maybe they are at Northeast Trains or Charles Ro picking up my Christmas present......nah, that type of thinking would be too optimistic.
Now I am getting texts from my wife asking me to stop off at the grocery store, the bakery, and the post office on my way home. I need help!!!!!
Jack.
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
fifedog Mornin' boys. Mornin' English. A balmy 71 degrees in the Mid-Atlantic region. Should be raining by the time the RAVENS take on RockIsland's Pats this afternoon.
Fife!!!! What happened to the Ravens yesterday? The severely depleted Patriots got off easy, on the road no less. All of the local prognosticators and those on ESPN up my way had the Ravens winning this one.
DougM and LAZ.............the Bears got stomped!?! This was just as much a surprise to me as the Ravens/Pats game.
Well, Grampy Jack was supposed to have been relieved of his babysitting duties "no later than 1PM." They must have meant Central time Think I will go see if there is beer in the fridge.
Later, gang.
Jack
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month